President Sirisena to meet John Kerry

President Maithripala Sirisena will meet US Secretary of State John Kerry today (27) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, a Ministry Spokesperson said yesterday. Unconfirmed reports said a one-on-one between President Sirisena and US President Barack Obama is likely to take place during the UNGA, but the spokesperson said they haven’t been informed of such a meeting as of Saturday.

The President will address the UNGA on September 30.

A bi-lateral meeting between President Sirisena and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was held on Saturday. He had also called on United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon yesterday (26).

There was a high profile meeting between President Sirisena and Indian Premier Narendra Modi on Friday (25) as well as with President of Switzerland, Simonetta Sommaruga and ICRC President, Peter Maurer.

The Summit on Sustainable Development 2015 which commenced parallel to the 70th Session of the UNGA will be held till September 28.

President Maithripala Sirisena is also scheduled to address the Summit where leaders of 150 states out of 198 UN member countries are participating.

The ministerial delegation comprises Mangala Samaraweera, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Mahinda Samarasinghe. In addition, Presidential Secretary P. B. Abeykoon and Northern and Eastern Governors left for New York on Wednesday (23) to attend the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly.

The President is expected to return to the country on October 2.